ABU DHABI, 23 May / WAM / Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him”, Lieutenant-General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, today inaugurated the works of the 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which is organized by The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center “ADNEC” until May 29, with the participation of more than 1,000 exhibitors from 80 countries.
The opening was attended by H.E. Suhail bin Muhammad Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, H.E. Noura bint Muhammad Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education, and Sarah bint Awad Issa Muslim, Minister of State for Early Education, and His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Saud Al Hosani, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language and Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Language Center, Director of the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition For writers, a group of intellectuals and lovers of writers and literature.
During his tour of the exhibition, His Highness inspected a number of pavilions and local, Arab and international publishing houses participating in the exhibition, most notably the exhibition of the pavilion of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is the guest of honor at the exhibition for the second time in a row.
His Highness was briefed on the most important literary, knowledge, cultural and intellectual works that contribute to the advancement of the publishing and literature sector and enrich the global cultural scene.
A large part of the program accompanying the exhibition was devoted to highlighting German literary and intellectual works, through an important group of dialogue sessions in which the most prominent German writers, intellectuals and thinkers participate, to introduce German culture and its pioneers, and the most important literary, cultural and artistic publications are presented in a special pavilion. It is shared by the most important publishers in Germany.
His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said in a speech during the opening: “Exhibitions have always constituted a bridge for transmitting peoples’ civilization and history. They are the witness and narrator of the achievements of creators in a world that is constantly changing, and we are keen, under the guidance of our wise leadership, to support these people.” Creative people by creating renewable opportunities to involve them in the local cultural scene to ensure the continuity of their creativity and transmission across generations.. We are inspired by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi from the ideas of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, “may God rest his soul” in preserving our Arabic language and promoting The creative industries sector in its various fields, and through the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, we are working to consolidate the position of our capital as a global cultural center paralleling its well-known global economic importance, as we were able to combine its Arab identity with openness to the cultures of other peoples.”
For his part, His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, President of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, said: “For three decades, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair embodied the ray that the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God bless his soul, wanted to be a starting point and a fundamental pillar in the process of community building.” and civilization witnessed by the state, as the book is the incubator of thought, awareness, creativity, and culture as an important daily practice for the renaissance and progress of societies.”
He stressed that “the event’s attraction of such a large number of publishers, intellectuals and creators from all over the world reflects the great confidence these creators place in the exhibition and indicates its position on the map of Arab and international cultural work.”
Throughout the days of its activities, the public will witness a diversity in the exhibition’s agenda, which includes multiple pillars that include the main podium and the youth podium, in addition to the business lobby, lifestyles corner and art corner, which offer a wide range of dialogue sessions, seminars, and literary, cultural and intellectual evenings that host a selection of The brightest names in the world of thought and literature.
This year, the exhibition is organizing a wide range of educational events and specialized activities for children presented by a group of academics and specialists, in addition to the cultural program for the guest of honor “Germany”, which celebrates within its pavilion the creativity of a group of thinkers and creators with the participation of regarding 80 publishers, educators and creators over 40 sessions Diverse cultural and professional, accompanied by a selection of German films inspired by books.
The local and Arab audience will learn regarding the creations of the poet, playwright and novelist Johann Goethe, as well as a visual, cognitive and creative account of a long history of German intellectual, linguistic and literary creativity.
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is a leading regional and international platform and a distinguished cultural event that annually brings together the poles of the publishing industry in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The exhibition represents a cultural platform that is the most prominent and most attractive for visitors who are passionate regarding books, and the number of visitors annually reaches more than 150 thousand visitors, and more than a thousand exhibitors, from around the world, to promote the culture of reading and encourage creativity and writing in various fields.
This year’s edition is characterized by the launch of a new initiative that sheds light on a pivotal figure who has greatly influenced the fields of culture, thought, knowledge, creativity and others.
The book Insira” by dedicating a pavilion to the central figure and organizing seminars that serve as an intellectual forum for navigating the worlds of Taha Hussein’s literature, and stopping at his works analysis, reading and criticism.
